Hooker Odom took her other job in January; Easley's the problem; MOVING ON: HB973 Mental Health Equitable Funding

Verla Insko, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on mental health reform stated, in a personal e mail : "...The Secretary accepted the Milbank position in January. She planned on starting this October but other staff at Milbank retired and they needed her on board earlier so they could begin filling the vacant positions...." I guess Hooker Odom had seen the writing on the wall. Its interesting to speculate why she did what she did to Community Support as she knew she had another job waiting for her. So, this is not really the opportunity we thought it was. In fact, the public has been gamed all along in this matter: Hooker Odom with her other job waiting, with she crashing mental health reform just for fun.

This brings us the matter of Allen Dobson, MD ("Allen Dobson" allen.dobson@ncmail.net who manages DMA: Medicaid & Medicare....bearing in mind that these entities lead the way for health reform) ; Mike Mosley" <mailto:mike.moseley@ncmail.netand Leza Wainwright

We should at least ask for someone who doesn't have another job occuping their time and energy. That seems like a good interview question for another person coming to DHHS: Are YOU gaming the system by not doing the work? This is actually pretty nauseating as associated with Hooker Odom sickly trying to pin the accusation of 'gaming' on Community Support providers. And Easley backing her up. They knew she had another job waiting. "Secretary Odom told me in January that she had this extraordinaryopportunity to have a nationwide, even global, impact on criticalhealth policies," Easley said in a statement."(Raleigh N&OLynn Bonner, Staff Writer:5.6.07) Easley is the problem re: MH funding . Will the next governor have the same learning disability? : "In March, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Healthco-chaired by Sen. Martin Nesbitt, an Asheville Democrat, recommendedthat lawmakers increase spending in the mental health care system bymore than $100 million.Easley's response? In the budget he sent to the Legislature, Easleyrecommended only $3.5 million for new services and a total of $4.7million in new mental health spending. This for a system that needsmillions of dollars to establish both services and facilities in themore rural parts of the state.A spokesman for Easley defended the recommendation because the $4.7million was what Hooker Odom's department asked for. Doesn't Easleyrealize he can send proposals back when they are inadequate?"(Hendersonville News Editorials May 06. 2007: http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070506/NEWS/705060363/1016/OPINION02)
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But I digress. Here is what Verla Insko states we must do in order to move MENTAL HEALTH PARITY forward. Specifically, this is entitled: H973 Mental Health Equitable Funding Verla states: "It is in House Health and must go through House Insurance and pass the House BEFORE MAY 17TH (date when bills must pass on chamber and cross over to the other chamber"
Write an e mail letter to these people and ask this and state why you believe this is important:
'PLEASE HEAR THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY BILL IN THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE" (with the following suggestions reasons about 'why this is important')
1. mental health reform in NC needs this legislative support
2. because you have a loved one who needs to have mental health care that is at the same level as physical health care
3. because mental health and its challenges shapes physical health and one's ability to go to school, to work, to function
4. Item 1: 39 STATES HAVE SOME FORM OF PARITY :
http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan07/public.html
5. Item 2. PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070429/7healy.htm
6. PARITY LAWS HAVE BEEN ENACTED W/O THE PROBLEMS ENVISIONED BY THE OPPOSITION: http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar02/pp.html

Here is the entire e mail list: take this and cut and paste it into your browser, and send your e mail:
Marthaa@ncleg.netmailto:Bobe@ncleg.net,Raymondr@ncleg.net,Hughh@ncleg.net,Joeh@ncleg.net, CC these members of the committee & mental health reform folks:
Tomw@ncleg.net, Carolynj@ncleg.net, Almaa@ncleg.net, Carya@ncleg.net, Marilyna@ncleg.net, Jeffba@ncleg.net, Joeb@ncleg.net, Brub@ncleg.net, Billcu@ncleg.net, Nelsond@ncleg.net, Jeanf@ncleg.net, Rickg@ncleg.net, Bruceg@ncleg.net, Robertg@ncleg.net, Jimha@ncleg.net, Marymc@ncleg.net, Wiln@ncleg.net, Marianm@ncleg.net, Earlinep@ncleg.net, Charlest@ncleg.net, Williamw@ncleg.net, Trudiw@ncleg.net, mailto:Winkiew@ncleg.net,Verlai@ncleg.net, Nesbittla@ncleg.net

(Chair and Vice Chairs w/ more detail info):
Rep. Alexander(Dem106) Martha B. Alexander Mecklenburg 919-733-5807 Marthhaa@ncleg.net
Rep. England (Dem,112) Bob England, M.D. Cleveland, Rutherford 919-733-749
mailto:919-733-749Bobe@ncleg.net
Rep.Rapp (Dem118) Haywood, Madison, Yancey 919-733-5732
Raymondr@ncleg.net
Rep. Holliman (Dem 81) Davidson 919-715-0873
Hughh@ncleg.net
Speaker Hackney (Dem 54) Chatham, Moore, Orange 919-733-3451
Joeh@ncleg.net

Health (NC House) Standing Committee, composed of: (1 Chairman, 4 Vice Chairmen) Members Rep. Wright Chairman
Rep. Earle (as above) Vice Chairman
Rep. England (as above) Vice Chairman
Rep. Justus Vice Chairman
Rep. Rapp (as above) Vice Chairman
Members
Rep. Adams, Rep. Alexander, Rep. Allred, Rep. Avila, Rep. Barnhart, Rep. Boylan, Rep. Brubaker, Rep. Current, Rep. Dollar, Rep. Farmer-Butterfield, Rep. Glazier, Rep. Goforth, Rep. Grady, Rep. T. Harrell, Rep. Insko, Rep. McAllister, Rep. McLawhorn, Rep. Neumann, Rep. Parmon, Rep. Thomas, Rep. Wainwright, Rep. Walend, Rep. Wilkins

At Verla Insko's suggestion, I will then follow this H973 which will be calendared in comittees by viewing the daily calendar. H973 is NOT on the calendar for Monday, May 7th, as outlined here: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/homePage.pl
4:00 PM MENTAL HEALTH REFORM (House) 424 LOB
House: Convenes Mon, May 7, 2007 7:00PM Chamber Audio House Calendar
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Just what is the 'high risk pool' about? I asked Susan Fisher, my Rep in Buncombe who sends out a helpful newsletter:
"You stated, Rep Fisher, in your post to constituents: "Under the bill, people enrolling in the high-risk pool would pay about two-thirds of the program's costs through their premiums. '"
I asked Fisher and Insko what was to happen to many of my clients who earn something like $10,000-15,000/yr---who cannot even afford the food on the table? They won't be part of this high risk pool, will they?
Verla Insko answered:
"Unfortunately, this is correct. This iteration of the high risk pool will be accessible to only about 13,000 of the 30,000 - 100,000 people who currently qualify and the greatest and perhaps only barrier to everyone else is the cost of the premium. Once we get the program up and running, we hope to add a state appropriation to subsidize the premium of lower income residents. The insurance companies are still calling too many of the shots in Raleigh. This is just what we could get passed. I think MH parity may pass this session but that may not help your clients either. We need a Medicaid buy-in program here in NC. "